Hypodermic syringe



Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EVERETT L. HOSKINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO COOK LABORATORIES, IN C., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HYPODEBMIC SYRINGE Application led January 4, 1923. Serial No. 610,565.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved hypodermic syringe of the class wherein the iiuids to be injected may be norma`1ly sealed in containers Y or cartridges 5 which can be inserted into the syrin e instrument and the contents thereo 4 ejected through the needle and without the necessity of introducing any of the Huid in an unconfined state within the barrel of the syringe. In general, my improvements comprehend a syringe body having at one end-an inwardly projecting short needle adapted to perforate a yielding closure or stopper in one end of a cartridge to be introduced and through which the uid may be ejected by the forcible inward movement of a second closure at the other end of the cartridge, the syringe body being further provided with a detachable nipple carrying the hypodermic 2o needle proper, whereby said hypodermic needle may be'removed andsterilized and replaced without disturbing the inwardly projecting needle through which the contents of the cartridge pass in the use of the instrument.

My improvements further comprehend a hinged breech head at the rear of the syringe and adapted to be turned to one side when introducing or removing the cartridge and provided withA means for locking the i breech head in alinement with the body barrel of the syringe and forcing` the cartridge down upon the needle and clamping it in position, said breech head further carrying a longitudinally reciprocable plunger adapted 4to be guided in axial alinement with the cartridge for forcibly driving inward the adjacent closure or stopper, causing it to act as a piston in ejecting the fluid through the two alned needles.

-The' invention further comprehends the provision in the plunger of a hole or recess at its operating end adapted to receive the inwardly projecting tubular needle when no cartridge is present and thereby avoiding any damage to the point o f said needle.

My invention also consists of other con-I structions, combinations and sub-combinations which, together with the features above specified, are fully described hereinafter and j i more particularly defined in the claims.I

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side view of a hypodermic syringe embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same with portions broken away, whereby the illustration may be on a larger scale; Fig. 3 is a perspective View illustrating the general construction of the body, breech head and other connecting parts embodying my improvements; Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the cartridges, the ends thereof being in section to more clearly illustrate the closure features; and Fig. 5 is a cross section on lineA 5-5 of Fig. 1.

2 is the body of the syringe, being Open at one end and closed at the other, the latter being provided with a head 3 having a screw threaded nip le 4 which'is screwed into the closed end o the body, said head provided with a hole 5L formed entirely through it and in which a short tubular needle 5 is secured and which extends through the nipple 4 so as to project a short distance into the interior of the syringe body. The head 3 is extended at its outer end and externally screw threaded to provide an extension upon which the nipple 6 isi adapted to be screwed, whereby it may be readily detached when necessary. The nipple 6 is provided with an ordinary hypodermic needle 7 said needle and nipple being entirely separate Vfrom the needle 5 and adapted to be removed together when required to be subjected to a disinfectant fluid. As the needle 7 is, ex vtended entirely through the nipple, (as is commonly understood), it is manifest that any fluid ejected from the interior 'of the syringe body through the short needle 5 will also be ejected through the nipple 6 and the hypodermic needle 7, it being further understood .that the nipple 6 makes a liquid tight ,'oint with the head 3, the screw connectloii etween these parts being. preferably slightly tapered.

At the other end of the syringe bodythere is provided a breech head 8 having a circular partv 1() which fits over the end of the body.2,"and is extended in a semi-circular portion whose ends are hinged at 9 tothe opposite sides of the body. In this manner,

the breech head may be turned at right angles to the body, as shown in Fig. 3, to

expose the entrance into the body, or may 5 be turned upward in alinement with the body part 2 extending over the end thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The part 10 of the breech head is bored out in alinement with the interior of the syringe body and is fitted with a clamping part 13 having a screw threaded shank 14 by which it may be screwed relatively to the part in a longitudinal direction to enter the syringe body and thereby lock the head in alinement with the body during the use of the syringe, as more fully described hereafter. The screw threaded extension 14 of the locking part 13 may be provided with a milled wheel 15 by which to rotate it, when adjusting the part 13 into or out of locking position.

The barrel 2 of the syringe is preferably open along its length atopposite sides, as at 2, and is adapted to receive a tubular glass cartridge 21 which is somewhat shorter than the syringe body, to permit entrance of the'locking and clamping part 13 and which clamps the cartridge in position upon the needle 5. The cartridge 21 loosely fits the interior bore 20 of the barrel-ofthe body, so that it may be readily introduced and removed when necessary. It is also desirable that the closedr end of the barrel of the body be provided with a thin washer 26 of asbestos or other slightly yielding material against which the glass of the cartridge may be received to insure a reasonably tight yjoint and prevent danger of cracking the glass tube in case of slight irregularities in its end edges.

consists of a short glass tube sealed at one it for a more ready entrance of the plunger` end 17 when ej ecting the iuid. The cartridge is loosely placed -within the barrel 2 of the syringe body and may be viewed through the window apertures 2, whereby the extent of the discharge of the iuid may be ob-A served. The plunger for causing the ejection ofthe iuid consists of a long cylindrical rod 16 having at its outer end a handle portion 19 and at its inner end a part 17 which loosely fits the interior ofthe cartridge tube .21, whereby it may press upon the movable stopper or closure 22 and freely l travel 65 through the cartridge tube when eJecting the This cartridge 21, containing the fluid 24,

Huid therefrom. The plunger 16 is guided through a bearing formed in the locking and clamping part 13 and its screw threaded extension 14, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2, whereby when the breech head is turned into alinement with the syringe body and locked in said position by the locking and clamping part 13, a longitudinal movement of the plunger will cause it to enter the cartridge without danger of cracking the same. The

- end 17 of the plunger is preferably provided with a hole orrecess 18 of a diameter amply suiiicient to readily receivelthe needle 5 when the plunger is fully received in the syringe body, but it will be understood that, if desired, the hand part 19 may act as a limit stop in connection with the end of the extension 14 to limit the inward movement of the plunger so that itshall not quite reach the needle 5, and I. therefore. do not limit myself in this respect.

The breech head 8 is also provided with a cross bar 12 which is journaled about the circular part 10 and held in position thereon by a nut 11, thereby permitting the said cross bar 12 to be movable about the longitudinal axis of the syringe when in use, said bar acting as a support for twoof the fingers of the'hand while the palm thereof is caused to act upon the handle part 19 of the plunger. In Fig. 3, I have shown the cartridge 21 slightl projecting from the barrel of the body 2 for the purpose of illustrating the general sleeved arrangement of these parts. When, however, they are in actual use, their relative positions are as indicated in Fig. 2, and the locking and clamping part 13 is advanced into the body 2 to lock the breech head in operative position.

In employing my improved syringe, the breech head is swung back, as indicated 1n Fig. 3, a cartridge 21 (Fig. 4) is inserted into the metallic barrel of the body 2 with its closure 23 resting upon the point of the needle 5. The breechhead 8 is then swung upward into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the locking and clamping part 13 is screwed inward within the barrel of the body 2 to lock the breech head vin Aalined position; and by a continued inward screwing, said part 13 presses upon the end of the cartridge and forces its other end down upon the needle 5, causing the same to penetrate the closure 23, as shown in Fig. 2, and with the said part 13 as indicated in dotted lines. Thereafter, the plunger 16 may be forced inward upon the outermost closure 22 of the cartridge, driving it forward as a piston and ejecting the flui 24 through the needle 5 and thence through the nipple 6 and hypodermic needle 7. n

lthis operation, it will be `seen that the cartridge is hermetically sealed and by no possibility can the fluid contents thereof become contaminated; consequently, the purity of the medicament is preserved. When the injection has been completed and it is desired to .remove the spent cartridge, the locking and clamping part 13 is screwed back and the plunger withdrawn intoA the positions of the solid lines shown in Fig; 2, and thereupon the breech head is swung around, as shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter, the cartridge is grasped by the linger and thumb through the opposite openings or windows 2a in the body,2 and moved backward and from off the needle 5 and finally out of the syringe. If only a portion of the fluid contents is used, the rubber closure 23 automatically seals itself and retains the contents for further use, if so desired.

The above described syringe may be used to advantage in making intraosseous and other injections requiring high pressures. In previous cartridge syringes, excessive pressure may at times force the pierced plug out of the end of the cartridge, thereby causing loss of the `medicament and soiling of the syringe y and the person of the practitioner. This outward movement of the pierced plug is nearly always possible because a cartridge is not held immovably by previously known syringes, but on the contrary, is capable of a slight longitudinal movement; and therefore when heavy pressure is exerted on the sliding plug, the pierced plug (through the intermediationof the incompressible medicament), is subjected to an equal pressure, which may be sufficient to cause the entire cartridge to move back or away from the pierced plug, under'the reaction stresses, finally exposing the inner end of the plug, whereupon a violent discharge of the medicament takes place in all directions. The described syringe locks the cartridge 1mmovably, thus making it impossible for the pierced plug to move beyond the end of the cartridge body, thereby preventing accidental discharge of the medicament. This locking of the cartridge is also of advantage when piercing of the cartridge is accomplished after the cartridge is in place; there can then be no displacement of the plugs by the inward thrust of the needle 5, consequently loss of the medicament and soiling of the syringe are prevented.

In the above description and -in many of the appended claims the syringe isreferred toA as a hypodermic syringe. It will be readily understood that the syringe as disclosed herein may be used without change for various injections and for the application of iuid and semi-fluid medicaments to tissues generally. Hence the word hypodermic, wherever used, is to beconsidered as used descriptively and not restrictively.

It will now be apparent that Ivhave devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features 'of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and do not restrict myself to the details, as thesame are susceptible pf modication in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire'to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a hypodermic syringe, the body portion provided at one end with an outwardly extending ordinary hypodermic needle and an inwardly extendingptubular needle, combined with a breech head'hinged near the other end of the body and adapted to swing over the open end thereof,a longitudinally adjustable locking part carried by the breech head and adapted to be adjusted into the open end of the syringe body to hold the head in alinement therewith, a reciproc'able plunger' having a sliding connection with said breech head whereby it is guided axially through the syringe body and in alinement with the inwardly extending tubular needle thereof, a cartridge fitting the body and having a perforable closure at one end and a longitudinally movable closure at the other end, said cartridge clamped in the body by means of the adjustablelocking part and the pressure of the latter adapted to force the cartridge upon the inwardly projecting needle to cause the same to penetrate through the perforable closure whereby communica tion may behad with the contents of the interiorof the cartridge the plunger adapted to act upon the movable closure to caus'e it to function as a piston for the cartridge, and wherein further, the locking and clamping part consistsofa rotatable member adjustably screwed in the breech head and having a diameter approximately equal to the internal diameter of the open end of the'body,

said rotatable member having a' guide passage through it in which the reciprocable having a sliding connection with said breech head whereby it is guidedaxially throughl the syringe body and in alinement with the inwardly extending .tubular needle thereof, wherein further there is provided a cartridge fitting the body and having a perforable closure at one end and a longitudinally movable closure at the other end, said cartridge clamped therein by meansv of the adjustable locking part, the pressure of the latter adapted to force the cartridge upon the inwardly projecting needle to cause the same to penetrate through the perforable closure whereby communication may be had with the contents of the interior of the cartridge the plunger adapted to act upon the movable closure to cause it to function as a piston for the cartridge, and wherein further, the body part is provided on opposite sides with open window portions arranged longitudinally whereby the cartridge may be viewed through the body part and may also be grasped to withdraw it from oft" the inwardly extending needle upon completing the use of the instrument.

3. A hypodermic syringe comprising, in combination, means for holding a medicament dispensing cartridge; a hinged closure for said holding means; and a screw-actuated lock bridging the joint between said closure and holding means.

4. A hypodermic syringe comprising, in combination, a cartridge holder; a hinged closure therefor; a hollow screw engaging the closure with its threads and constructed and arranged to hold the closure and cartridge holder together; and a plunger slidable through said screw to dispense the contents of the cartridge.

5. A syringe of the class described comprising, in combination, a barrel constructed and arranged to receive a cartridge; means for piercing one end of the cartridge; a joint in the syringe permitting opening thereof for the insertion or removal of a cartridge; and a screw in the breech end of the instrument providing a lock for the syringe joint and also providing cartridge pushing means to force the cartridge against the piercing means.

6. A syringe of the class described comprising, in combination, a jointed cartridge carrier; a cartridge-piercing point; a screw locking the joint in the syringe; and means carried by the screw designed to engage the end of the cartridge to push it against the piercing point.

7. A syringe of the class described comprising, in combination, a barrel constructed to hold a cartridge; a hinged head at one end of the barrel designed to close the barrel; a canula for piercing the cartridge; a plunger for expelling the contents of the cartridge; and a cartridge pushing member, said member manually adjustable relative to the plunger for ,pushing the cartridge; both the plunger and cartridge pushing member being carried by said hinged head.

8. A syringe of the class described comprising, in combination, a body; a medicament cartridge held by the body and constructed and arranged to have its interior volume reduced for discharge of its contents; said body having a joint whereby it may be broken at the joint for insertion of the cartridge; and a locking member to secure the jointed parts of the syringe in operative position, said Alocking means engaging the end of the cartridge to clamp it immovably.

9. In a cartridge syringe, a cartridge holder having a cartridge-piercing canula at its fore end and having a breech head displaceable to permit endwise insertion of the cartridge; a hollow screw mounted in said breech head and adapted tol be screwed therein against the butt end of the cartridge to thrust it forward and insure piercing by the needle; and a cartridge-operating plunger slidable in said screw and connected thereby to the head.

10. In ,a cartridge syringe, a cartridge holder having a hinged breech head; a hollow screw in said headv cooperable with the body of the holder to lock the head in place,

`which the plunger works, cooperable with the said parts to hold the instrument closed.

12. In a cartridge-syringe, a jointedcartridge-holding operating instrument having in its breech end a cartridge-operating plunger and constructed at its fore end to provide a cartridge abutment and to accommodate a cartridge-piercing needle, said instrument comprising'parts permanently connected but relatively displaceable -for opening the instrument to permit insertion of the cartridge and having an axially-arranged hollow screen, in which the plunger works, said screw adapted when the instrument is closed to be screwed against the butt end of the cartridge so as to thrust it forward, and said screw cooperable with said parts as a locking device to prevent their displacement and thus hold the instrument closed.

13. In a cartridge-syringe, a breech-loading cartridge-holding and.. operating instrument, j ointed'to permit swinging its rear portion relative to its front portion for opening the instrument to permit insertion or withdrawal of the cartridge; said front portion embodying an abutment for the fore end of the cartridge and adapted to accommodate a cartridge-piercing needle; and a cartridgeoperating plungerand hollow screw in which said plunger works carried by said rear portion, said screw adapted to bridge the jointed parts of the instrument to lock the same in closed condition and to bear on the butt end of the cartridge and thrust it forward against said abutment.

14. In a' cartridge-syringe, a breech-loading cartridge-holding and operating instrument, jointed to permit swinging its rear portion relative to its front portion for opening the instrument to permit'insertion or ,withdrawal of the cartridge; said front portion embodying an abutment for the fore end of the cartridge and adapted to accommodate a cartridge-piercing needle; and a cartridgeoperating plunger and hollow screw in which said plunger Works carried by said rear portion, said screw adapted to bridge the jointed parts of the instrument to lock the same in closed condition.

15. In a cartridge-syringe, a jointed cartridge-holding and operating instrument, adapted to be opened for introduction of a cartridge and to be closed for operative use,

v said instrument embodying` a cartridge-operating plunger and an associated screw to lock the instrument closed.

16. In a cartridge-syringe, a jointed cartridge-holding and operating instrument adapted to be opened bywdisaligning its front and rear parts to permit introduction of a cartridge and to be closed for operative use by straightening the instrument, said instrument having its fore end `constructed to receive a cartridge-piercing needle and having a plunger in its breech end and embodying an axially-arranged screw t0 lock the instrument closed.

17. In a cartridge-syringe, a breech-loading cartridge-holding and operating instrument embodying a plunger in its breech end, and embodying in its fore portion a head aording an abutment for the fore end of the cartridge and having an opening to accommodate a cartridge-piercing canula, said instrument jointed to permit lateral displacement of the plunger out of alinement with the normal axis of the instrument, with a'ccompanying opening of the breech end, and embodying an axially arranged hollow screw, through which the plunger works, said screw adapted to lock the instrument in closed condition with the .parts in alinement.

18. An instrument of the class described,

for use with a cartridge having a pierceable stopper in its fore end,- comprising a cartridge receiving barrel provided at its fore end with a head having a ine axial bore and i a hypodermic needle detachably fixed on said head in communication with said bore, and a canula consisting of afhollow needle ixedly through the hypodermic needle via the said canula and communicating bore.

19.V In an instrument of the class described for use with a cartridge having a pierceable v stopper in its fore end, a cartridge-receiving barrel provided at its fore end with an axially-bored head and a canula consisting of a hollow needle ixedly secured in said bore and projecting axially a substantial distance into said barrel to pierce through said stopper, said canula being separate from but communicating through said bore With the delivery point of the instrument.

20. A cartridge syringe comprising, in combination, a cartridge embodying a sealed liquid-containing tube having a pierceable stopper in its fore end and having a-piston plug; and an instrument comprising a Calftridge holder having a canula to pierce said stopper and a plunger rod to force in said pist0n plug; the fore end of said instrument comprising an axially bored head, and said canula comprising a hollow needle ixedly secured in the bore of said head and extending axially into the instrument a substantial distance to pierce through said pierceable stopper, said canula being separate from but communicating through said bore with the delivery point of the instrument.

21. In a hypodermic syringe, the body portion provided at one end with an outwardly extending ordinary hypodermic needle and an inwardlyextending tubular needle, combined with a breech head hinged near the end of the body most distant from the needle end thereof and adapted to swing over the end adjacent to which it is hinged; a longitudinally adjustable locking part carried by the breech head and adapted to be adjusted into the open end of the syringe body to hold said head in alinement withthe body; and a reciprocable ,plunger having a `sliding' connection with said breech head and through the locking part, whereby it is Aguided axially through the .syringe body and in alinement vwith the inwardly extending tubular needle thereof. v In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

EVERETT L. I-IOSKINS.

secured in said bore and protruding axially a substantial distance into said ba'rrel' to pierce through the said pierceable stopper; the instrument being constructed to permit endwise insertion of the cartridge throughthe breech end, and having means for operating said cartridge to expel its fluid contents 

